Retirement policy, interest rates and market volatility have made retirement planning more challenging for clients and advisors alike. What are the philosophies, opportunities and challenges you need to be aware of to help your clients navigate decumulation in today’s environment?   In this episode, we’re joined by Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson Coaching and co-creator of the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation. Jamie discusses the...

(Originally aired in September 2016). This episode centers around family conversations that should happen when investors are planning for their estates and legacy. In this episode, our guest is Dr. Amy D’Aprix , BMO Financial Group’s Life Transition Expert. She discusses properly approaching challenging conversations, enhanced estate planning, planning beyond the will, and the unique position of the financial advisor. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit...

As the coronavirus pandemic surges worldwide, we hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. In an effort to support your client conversations during these times, we recorded a special episode with Steve Sanduski full of actionable ideas to help both you and your clients thrive during and coming out of this period. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit...

The longest bull market in history has come to an end.  The coronavirus, combined with oil markets, started the correction in late February of 2020.  However even prior to this recent news, many investors and their advisors have been looking to de-risk portfolios, and low volatility investing has swelled in popularity. Chris Jenks returns to the show to discuss the ins and outs of low volatility investing and its potential impact on portfolios during times of market volatility. For full...

Finding the financial planning software that’s a fit for your practice can feel overwhelming. There are many different solutions that have various features, benefits and client interfaces, and it can be hard to determine where to start. In this milestone episode, Michael Kitces from Nerd’s Eye View joins us to discuss the differences between many of the large planning software providers in the financial planning industry, helping you set a game plan to choose the right fit for your...

What if you could have advocates in your target market promoting your brand? Word-of-mouth marketing has one of the highest ROI’s but is one of the hardest to create. Sarano Kelley returns to the podcast to explain how creating – and maintaining – centers of influence can add value to your clients and your business. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.bmogam.com/us-en/advisors/news-and-insights/fostering-success-with-centers-of-influence/

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed appropriations legislation which included the passage of the SECURE Act. This legislation is broadly about increasing retirement security and making it easier for small businesses and part-time employees to access retirement plans, but there are some additional components to the legislation that will have an impact on retirement plans. Mike Barry joins the podcast to discuss those key components of the SECURE Act, including what it means for...

At the Excel 401(k) conference in October 2019, we heard from a panel of advisors who managed to double their business in a relatively short time. How did they do it, and what ideas can you implement to help your practice grow at a faster rate? Our panelists, David Griffin of Atlanta Retirement Plans, Jania Stout of Hightower, and Robert Scherzer of Pensionmark, discuss what they learned on their path to 2x, including how they conquered the challenge of growing so rapidly. For full show...

Our guests in 2019 came armed with invaluable lessons for your practice and your clients alike. If you’re new to the podcast or simply looking for some inspiration, this episode should act as a great refresher to jump start ideas as we enter 2020. We’re joined by four BMO colleagues who work with financial advisors on a daily basis. Together, they share the information and ideas that stuck with them – and the advisors they work with – long after they listened to the show. For full show...

Status quo can be a hard thing to break away from. For one advisor, it was a life event that turned into a springboard for transformation. In today’s episode, Andy Hart and Julia Carlson join Ben Jones for a special fireside chat. Hear how Julia broke out to build a thriving practice and how she has translated her vision into reality. You will hear several actionable strategies from both guests that you may want to leverage as you charge into 2020 and beyond. For full show notes and links...

Every fall, BMO brings together investment strategists, economists, and leaders from across the industry to develop a medium-term outlook on the global markets.  With topics ranging from decarbonization and climate change to globalization and the risk of a U.S. recession, the Global Investment Forum helps paint a comprehensive picture of what may drive your clients’ portfolios in the years ahead. Our guest is Mike Dowdall, Investment Strategist and Portfolio Manager with BMO’s Multi-Asset...

Over the last year, China’s equity markets gained greater global presence when China-A shares were listed on the MSCI and FTSE indices. Yet, the government has been slow to open more investment opportunities to foreigners.  In this episode, we explore this rapidly evolving economy and how U.S. investors should view China in the context of their emerging markets exposure. Our guest is June Lui, a Portfolio Manager for the Greater China Strategy at LGM, which is one of BMO’s specialized...

The independent RIA channel has had sustained growth for over two decades. The desire for independence, innovative service models and transparency has fueled rapid growth.  Bernie Clark, Head of Schwab Advisor Services has been at the forefront of this evolution from a cottage business to over a 4 trillion dollar industry today. Bernie’s passion for helping independent advisors succeed in this space makes him the perfect person to share perspective and offer actionable advice for independent...

What does an inverted yield curve tell us? And how much should we plan for a recession? In this episode, we dive into current events in the fixed income markets and what it means for portfolios and clients. Our guest is Scott Kimball, Senior Portfolio Manager with BMO’s fixed income team. We discuss the recent FOMC meeting, the interest rate cuts and how advisors should be looking at fixed income going into 2020. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit...

Sometimes, simply educating people about how to save and budget isn’t enough to incentivize healthy choices with their money. There are deeper, more advanced strategies that advisors can use to help clients improve their financial security and wellness. Today our guest is Wendy De La Rosa. Wendy is the co-founder of Common Cents Lab, a financial research lab that uses behavioral science and cognitive psychology to develop interventions that help people make better financial decisions. Wendy...

78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, 43% of student loan borrowers are not making payments and nearly half of all employees can’t cover a $400 emergency. In an effort to help employees understand and improve their personal financial health, many plan sponsors and their advisors are turning to workplace financial wellness programs. Phyllis Klein is a senior director at Captrust Financial Advisors, a firm that specializes in institutional advisory work.  In this episode, Phyllis...

As a financial advisor, you have a lot of responsibilities in managing your clients. At times you might not even feel like you have the time and resources to shift your priorities to grow your business further.  Enter Matt Halloran, CEO of Top Advisor Marketing. Matt’s mission is to help businesses “rise above the noise” with a digital marketing strategy built on focused, custom content creation.  Today we’re talking with him to learn the most important tips about developing a marketing...

CFP, CPA, CLU, ChFC, RICP. You likely know what these designations are, but do your clients? And how important are these designations when prospective clients choose a financial advisor?  Mike McGlothlin from the Society of Financial Service Professionals joins the podcast to discuss how designations act as a reinvestment in yourself and can provide outward credibility for your practice. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit http://bmogam.com/betterconversations.

Talking about life insurance as part of a financial plan isn’t always easy, but it is important. What steps can you take to ensure these difficult conversations make it into your client’s financial plan?  We’re joined by Alison Salka and Jeremy Baker to discuss both the consumer perspective and the advisor perspective on the topic of life insurance. Together, these perspectives can help enhance your conversations with your clients and ensure their financial plan has an effective risk...

Morningstar is one of the best-known research organizations in the financial services industry. They're a company you probably interact with every week in some shape or fashion, whether you're checking out ratings of a fund or digging deeper into analysis using one of their platforms.  We’re joined by Jeff Ptak, Global Director of Manager Research at Morningstar, to discuss insights around manager research that may help you improve your research and portfolio construction process. For full...

The educational workshop can be an effective marketing practice and a way to provide education to your local community, helping to grow your business by creating a loyal client base that views you as a leader in financial planning.  We’re joined by Mike Thurman, co-founder of White Glove Workshops, as he showcases how other financial advisors have used educational workshops to turn new attendees into clients. Mike shares tips from planning your workshops all the way through the post-workshop...

Some advisors are doing what they’ve always wanted to do, and building practices that are incredibly fulfilling. Others might have inherited or succeeded a practice and are looking for a way to make it their own. Today, we discuss how to “Find your fire within” in regards to your practice and your client’s goals. Jason Barnaby joins the podcast to discuss the ways you can rediscover what you love to do as an advisor. Plus, he shares tips and ideas for how you can help your clients find their...

This is the latest in a series of episodes where we take you “in the trenches” with financial advisors that are using modern media strategies to build their business. Consistent client communications can be a challenge, but doing so can help bolster the relationship an advisor can have with their clients. What if that communication could potentially increase the visibility of your firm to potential new clients at the same time? A blog may be the answer.  David Armstrong of Monument Wealth...

It’s no secret that the advisor workforce is aging, and the old ways of recruiting and retaining advisors haven’t been sufficient in meeting demand for new talent in the industry. Some firms have turned to new, unique ways of advisor development and are seeing successful outcomes for their business. Matt Ransom of Raymond James joins the podcast to discuss today’s advisor demographics and address some of the barriers of entry for those thinking about getting into the field. Plus, he shares...

An investment policy statement is an important way to document goals and the plans to achieve them. While they are not a requirement as part of an investment plan, having one in place can help keep a plan on course during times of stress and uncertainty. Derek Sasveld joins the podcast to break down the basics of investment policy statements, including the four components of a well-written investment policy statement. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit...